MOON TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The records will note that the 2019 edition of the Robert Morris University women's lacrosse team absorbed its first loss of the season in its third game, 10-7 to visiting Liberty on Wednesday afternoon.

However, in holding their own against what head coach Katrina Silva called one of the "up-and-coming programs" in NCAA Division I, the Colonials (2-1) might have gained some valuable intangibles despite the defeat, things like experience and confidence.

"I was really proud of our effort," Silva said. "I'm super-proud of that. As a competitor, I'm a little bit frustrated ... but we just don't back down. We keep fighting, and I'm proud of that."

Silva had similar words after RMU's memorable home-opening overtime win over Canisius seven days ago. This time around, the Colonials' fight was similar, but the opponent brought an entirely different element: One of the most aggressive rides seen in women's lacrosse. 

Indeed, 10 of RMU's 19 turnovers in the game were caused by Liberty pressure, but while the Flames (4-1) controlled the middle 40 minutes of the game in building a 9-3 lead, the Colonials showed enough spells of efficiency early and late to encourage many on the home sideline. When junior Mackenzie Gandy scored her third consecutive goal with 8 1/2 minutes to play, RMU had climbed to within three against a team that took No. 20 Notre Dame to the wire last week.

"I love that we didn't give up," said junior defender Madison Burke, who was one off the team lead with four ground balls. "We just kept battling. It wasn't a pretty 60 minutes but it was a full 60 minutes."



Things looked mighty fine for RMU in the opening 10 minutes, as consecutive goals by senior Kerri Sayrafe and junior Thalia Zolis put the Colonials ahead, 2-1. RMU defended tenaciously from the start, although they did concede 13 free-position shots on the day along with four man-up opportunities, two of which the Flames converted for goals.

Still, there was a glimmer of light late in the first half, too, when junior Clio Kerr scored her third of the season off an assist from Mackenzie Gandy to pull the home team to a 5-3 deficit. 

Gandy, who entered the game as RMU's leading scorer, upped her season total to a team-best 13 points with the three-goal, two-assist outing. On the back end, junior defender Kelly Colegrove forced three turnovers, while Kerr filled the stat sheet with five ground balls, five draw controls and two caused turnovers. 

In the final accounting, though, the Colonials got what they were looking for when they scheduled a team like Liberty, which won the Big South regular-season title last year.

"When you look to put together a non-conference schedule, you look to see what (opponents) can give you," Silva explained. "Liberty has a physical style and we have some teams in our conference that play that way. We don't wear pads, so girls can back down and I was glad to see we didn't. (Liberty's) ride was intense. I don't know if there are any teams that can pull that off in our conference."

Silva and Burke noted that the Colonials did a better job in breaking Liberty's stifling man-to-man ride than Notre Dame did at times. Although the Colonials were outshot 40-21 for the game, they successfully cleared the ball from their own end 18 of 24 times.


"Liberty was a physical team," Burke said. "They tested us all over the field, but we're a physical team, too, and we brought that energy. ... We knew they were going to ride us hard, so we worked on those reverses. They got some turnovers but that's expected in a physical game like that."

Of course, RMU needed outstanding goalie play to hang with Liberty, and junior Katelyn Miller delivered just that. Her 17 saves were one shy of the single-game RMU record she set last March in an upset win over Louisville. In addition, Miller was tasked with spearheading the Colonials' response to the Liberty ride.

"We prepared well and our defense held up the whole time," Miller said. "There were a few wide-open shots, but you just have to face them. I think that playing this team and improving through the game will help us against future opponents."

In what might be a positive after the first loss of the year, the Colonials will have just two days to prepare for their next opponent. RMU will travel to Bucknell on Saturday, with first draw set for 3 p.m. from Lewisburg, Pa.